Inspector get prison term for taking $700 bribe

FREEHOLD (AP) — An inspector with the Freehold Soil Conservation District who accepted a $700 bribe from an undercover officer has been sentenced to three years in state prison.

John Tonon of Wall must serve two years of the sentence imposed Friday before becoming eligible for parole. He had pleaded guilty in July to official misconduct and bribery charges as part of a plea agreement with Monmouth County prosecutors.

Prosecutors say the 51-year-old Tonon had offered to expedite issuing soil conservation approvals for a home that was under construction in Hazlet, which would have accelerated the issuance of a certificate of occupancy and saved the builder money.

The undercover officer, posing as a business partner of the builder, later contacted Tonon and they agreed on the payment.